Impurest's Guide to Animals #72 - Ghost Bat

Back to work after an enjoyable week of cars, women and long, long phase 1 write-ups. Still at least I wasn’t tongue tied over last week’s issue on the Tongue Eating Louse. This week’s issue is a haunting achieved issue from @laflux. Hope you guys enjoy.

___________________________________________________________________

Issue #72 – Ghost Bat

Kingdom – Animalia

Phylum - Chordata

Class – Mammalia

Order – Chiroptera

Family – Megadermaitdae

Genus – Macroderma

Species – gigas

Related Species – Ghost Bats are the only species in the genus Macroderma(1)

Range

Vampire or Ghost?

With a wingspan of over half a meter, and a body length of twelve centimetres, the Ghost Bat (also known as the False Vampire Bat across some of its range) is one of the largest micro-bats, even dwarfing some of the fruit bat species, which are classified as mega-bats. One of the most distinguishing features of this species, is the pale white fur that covers the bat’s body, and the slightly jutting lower jaw. While some bat species are crepuscular, being active around dusk and dawn, the Ghost Bat is truly nocturnal, often emerging from its roost hours after midnight.

Ghost Bats are highly carnivorous, feeding on small mammals (including other bats), birds, reptiles and large insects. Like most predatory bats, echolocation is used to pinpoint prey, along with fairly well developed vision and a keen sense of smell. Prey is usually subdued by being pinned to the ground with the bat’s enlarged thumb claws, and then swiftly dispatched with a bite to the neck (2). The bats themselves are predated on by owls.

Reproduction occurs once every two years in the Australian spring, between October and November, with a single pup being born per female. The mother then carries the pup on her chest for a month, before depositing it in the maternity roost, where she continues to feed it for another two months until the young bat is weaned and can look after itself in the wild.

Ecology 101: A Guide to Environmental Mechanics - #8 White Nose Syndrome and its effect on Bats

Two weeks ago @ms-lola asked the follow question; Anything on bats? I just discovered we're having a huge problem with their populations decreasing on the east coast of Canada due to something called "white nose" syndrome, or something like that. It would be great to hear about them

White nose syndrome is spread by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which grows naturally in caves in Europe, and has an invasive range that includes five provinces in Canada, and twenty four states in the USA. The fungus is an extremophile, where its optimal growing temperatures are between four and twenty degrees Celsius. In addition, the species can also survive in both acidic and alkaline soil conditions, allowing it to thrive in areas with different geologies.

P.destructans is an opportunistic parasite on torpid bats, and can live its entire lifespan on guano, rotting plant matter and organic detritus. The fungus is spread by contact, so in order to become infected a bat must physically touch a fungal colony within its natural environment. The fungus grows slowly, and can be seen forming white colonies around the bat’s face and on its wings. As the fungus leeches energy from the wing tissue, the bat’s body starts burning energy faster causing increased levels of carbon dioxide to be produced, until the blood eventually becomes acidic (4).

The increased acidity of the blood, causes the bat to awaken from torpor prematurely, often in cold conditions. Such behavioural abnormalities such as a bat flying in winter, is often a last ditch effort by the host to boost it’s now depleted fat reserves in order to survive winter hibernation.

At current the fungal infection is still able to be targeted by some anti-fungal agents, although a few do little to inhibit further growth due to an evolved immunity to those chemicals, as well as temperatures over twenty five degrees Celsius. That said, the wide spread nature of the disease makes it hard to combat, as does the migratory nature of their host species coupled with the funguses ability to lay dormant in warm weather, in the form of spores.

References

1. www.arkive.org

2. Hudson W.S., Wilson D.E (1986). "Macroderma gigas" (PDF). Mammalian Species260 (260): 1–4

3. http://i1-news.softpedia-static.com/images/news2/Top-10-Ghost-Animals-2.jpg

4. Michelle L Verant, Carol U Meteyer, John R Speakman, Paul M Cryan, Jeffrey M Lorch, David S Blehert (9 December 2014). "White-nose syndrome initiates a cascade of physiologic disturbances in the hibernating bat host". BMC Physiology14 (10)

Picture References

1. http://www.koryoswrites.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/4943537942_7db10e5fbb_z.jpg

2. http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/displaydistmap.pl?type=species;id=66889

3. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/ea/3b/20/ea3b20aefc6bdeadc2b45339e5fcf109.jpg

4. http://www.bats.org.uk/data/images/threats/white_nose_al_hicks_nydeccrop.jpg

Hmm bad news bats, as we continue to battle White Nose Syndrome, if the continued spread of this disease continues a lot more bats might be nothing more then ghosts. Next week we have a deep sea request from @ironspiderchan45 but until then critic, comment and discuss future species to cover as well as checking out past issues in Impurest’s Bestiary.

Many Thanks

Impurest Cheese

@cbishop,@laflux,@ostyo,@wildvine,@darling_luna,@samimista,@cattlebattle,@xwraith,

@cgoodness,@mslola,@squares,@scorpion2501,@darthaznable,@scattered316,@bumpyboo,

@knightsofdarkness2,@wolverine08,@dboyrules2011,@joshuadbr,@nighthunder,@johnjo719,

@itsomething,@delphic,@dngn4774,@bruxae,@jaken7,@ccraft,@wim_garnet,@claymore1998,

@ironspiderchan45,@dccomicsrule2011,@hylian,@transcendence,@rd189,@unbreakable_fs4,

@quinnofthestoneage,@fuzzylittlerodent,@the_kidd,@rd189,@thetruebarryallen,@thevivas, @korrasami,@swordmasterd,@veitha, @thedandyman, @infinityball, @scavengerfist,@masterkungfu, @orpheus_knightfall, @themongoose and @rocketraccoonthingy:

Because I'm Ghost Bat...

Anyway we can help stop that fungi problem?

@ironspiderchan45: Spray Anti Fungicide in Caves and then disinfect anything you brought in with you. White Nose is stupidly resilient, although we may have found a bacteria that feeds solely on P.destructans. Further research is required before it's released though.

Another great blog on animals, I love bats so I'm glad to learn about one named Ghost Bat.

http://www.batconservation.org/how-can-i-help-save-bats

I supported savethebats.org by buying a hoodie with the logo, and I was able to talk to a few people about the bats whom took interest in my hoodie. So I recommend buying clothes from organizations like that.

Also I plan on buying a bat house soon from the same website.

If we lose bats we are so screwed...

Another reason i hate fungus

@impurestcheese: F@#king mushrooms hurting my adorable flying fur balls! ):/

I knew of this animal though not to the info given

They're the biggest small guys. Don't wanna mess with those tiny big bats.

Batman approves! Hmmm @impurestcheese How about something they cultivated from bats' ears to help fight the fungus? I read sumthin like that before.

@masterkungfu: Yeah it is a relatively well known animal

@ostyo: @cgoodness: Yeah fungi are never up to any good

@wildvine: Second biggest, the Spectral Bat has a wingspan which is 40cm larger then the Ghost Bat

@scavengerfist: Yeah there is a potential bacteriological weapon cultivated from bat ears that may help fight the fungus

@orpheus_knightfall: Hmm I have a Wood Fairy issue coming up...

@ccraft:Sorry about the late comment, been travelling to work, and yes bats are very important for the health of our landscape

@ccraft: There is another bat related issue floating around featuring the Honduran White Bat - Link is here (Honduran White Bat Issue)

I cannot fathom bats with huge wingspans. I read above your comment to wildvine, and I'm bugeyed. I wonder how much damage those wings can do to a person's head? Like, when they supposedly get stuck in someone's hair and rips off their scalp from the strength of them. I have no idea if true, but it's the reason why I wrap my hair tight in a bun and cover it with a kerchief when I head up to cottage country.

Thank you so much for the information on White Nose Syndrome. Considering that these animals only produce one pup at a time, their shrinking population is really horrible. I hope more time and money is spent on trying to get this fungus under control. A bat flying around in winter is apocalyptic.

@ms-lola: No self respecting bat would dare get caught in someone's hair. The wings are quite delicate and they wouldn't risk tearing them. Most bats have quite good vision coupled with their echolocation which keeps them away from people's heads.

And yes the White Nose is quite disturbing, that said most bats are quite long lived so producing one pup every other year isn't too much of a hindrance in normal conditions, but when their being targeted by disease, it is indeed apocalyptic.

@impurestcheese: Dananananananana Bat-Bummmmmp! :)

@impurestcheese: Thank you for the clarification! My mother was the one to pass down that little myth and insisted on us looking like idiots until she was sure there were no bats around. Also, thank you for the information on bats being long lived.

@impurestcheese: I've been waiting for you to get to this one. You mentioned the name awhile back, and I thought sure it was going to be the next installment lol. Cool critters. :)

I've always wanted to have a pet bat

@ms-lola: Yeah its a very common urban legend. As for long lifespan, there is a greater mouse-eared bat that has been coming back to the same cave for the last fifteen years.

@ficopedia: Yeah I did mention it a while back, it was a long time coming indeed

@hylian: Yeah unfortunately they are completely protected by law, making it illegal to keep one

@cbishop:Bat bump indeed

@impurestcheese: I'll go somewhere where it's legal

@hylian: It's illegal across Europe, Canada and the United States

@impurestcheese: To Africa I go

@hylian: Have fun :-)

@impurestcheese: I will

Oh. Fantastic. Happy to learn about these beast. ;)

@hylian: You do realise some African bats are resivoirs for diseases such as Ebola, Lassa Fever and many others. Because bats have a powerful immune system, these diseases are often more virulent then non bat vector diseases.

@dboyrules2011: No problem, thanks for the comment

@impurestcheese: Anytime. :)

@impurestcheese: I will do what I need to do

@hylian: Don't say I didn't warn you

@impurestcheese: I'll do what I want

@hylian: Of course

Bats are one of the few animals that creep me out along with spiders

Mongoose

@themongoose: Ah bats are mostly harmless

don't they carry disease or something like that?

@themongoose: Some do, but the majority of the global population are relatively disease free.

@impurestcheese: wow you answer quick

Did you catch monster weak on animal planet?

@themongoose: I was around. And no I didn't.

@impurestcheese: Clearly. Hurting insects and now bats! I'm glad I eat them on my pizza! ):0

@ostyo: Don't forget the amphibians effected by Bd, from the Paradox Frog issue

Sweet issue!!!

My Fav Bat :)

@laflux: I remember from your mention last time I covered a bat, also your request on the scorpion issue. :-p

Was that the Empepor Scorpion or Fat Tailed? I can't remember :P

@laflux: Yellow Tailed Scorpion

Oh I remeber now :0

Cause its the only scorpion in the U.K

@laflux: Yep that's it :-)

Mmm, poor bats

@veitha: Yeah they are in a lot of peril indeed

You're doing pretty well with your blogs cheese! Tell me your secret. I usually just make around 30+ comments. For you it's 50+! Tell me.